Depression and Christianity

[Rayado]

Sorry to interrupt, but it just needs to be said:
As for depression...you bring it into every conversation with the phrase you have on your avatar...depression sucks. And as I stated elsewhere, a third time now...depression is a sense of lack...explore that and you will find the truth that will set you free from that.
:whack: Chemical depression is a chemical imbalance. (http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=159) Exploring this 'sense of lack' isn't going to do a thing about the seratonin levels in a person's brain.

Back to your regularly scheduled feeding frenzy...

[Forrest]

Sorry to interrupt, but it just needs to be said:

:whack: Chemical depression is a chemical imbalance. (http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=159) Exploring this 'sense of lack' isn't going to do a thing about the seratonin levels in a person's brain.

Back to your regularly scheduled feeding frenzy...
Then Jesus lied...

Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, {19} To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Depression is a spirit and can be dealt with spiritually. ALL things in the Physical world are a manifestation of something in the spiritual.

[Rayado]

:no: There's a lot more to depression than being simply 'brokenhearted.' Sadness is not depression. It is a hallmark of foolishness and immaturity to blame everything on things 'spiritual.' Besides, let's look at the logic: if all maladies were, in fact, spiritual; there should be no way to physically heal things. Yet an awful lot of people have been helped greatly by medicines that combat the biological causes of depression.

I will request that this discussion be split to the psychology forum.

[Forrest]

:no: There's a lot more to depression than being simply 'brokenhearted.' Sadness is not depression. It is a hallmark of foolishness and immaturity to blame everything on things 'spiritual.' Besides, let's look at the logic: if all maladies were, in fact, spiritual; there should be no way to physically heal things. Yet an awful lot of people have been helped greatly by medicines that combat the biological causes of depression.

I will request that this discussion be split to the psychology forum.

If a Physician can heal this woman then she should do that...sounds to me that is not the case. But putting that aside...If any maladies had no spiritual source than Jesus would have certain maladies that He could not have healed.

Is that what you believe?

In other words...you are saying this depression can not be healed bt God?

Perhaps the story of the woman with an issue of blood rings a bell? Like this depression...physicians were of no help.

[metta_in_mind]

...

Depression is a spirit and can be dealt with spiritually. ALL things in the Physical world are a manifestation of something in the spiritual.

What's 'spirit'? Are all depressions a spirit? Are all illnesses a spirit? If mental illnesses are a spirit why do some drug therapies have wonderful outcomes? Are spirits affected by drugs? Why are mental illnesses supposedly subject to the will, intention and beliefs of the sufferer when having a cold isn't?

[rmwilliamsjr]

What's 'spirit'? Are all depressions a spirit? Are all illnesses a spirit? If mental illnesses are a spirit why do some drug therapies have wonderful outcomes? Are spirits affected by drugs? Why are mental illnesses supposedly subject to the will, intention and beliefs of the sufferer when having a cold isn't?
yep.

i had serious depression from severe sleep apnea. i probably hadn't dreamed in years and never got into stage 4 sleep-REM because of it. One night on a CPAP machine in a sleep study center and i knew the difference. in a few months i was back to myself.
so i had major depression because of severe sleep deprivation, the same thing will happen to any of you if you can not dream for an extended period of time.


maybe demons cause some depression, but like a broken arm, i'd prefer to have my family doctor look at fixing it before i ask the elders to anoint it with oil and cast out the demon that cause s and maintains the break.

afaik, the overwhelming numbers of people with depression are that way for a physical not a spiritual problem or demonic possession. but i can testify that the depression will cause spiritual problems. but no spiritual counseling would have given me a CPAP machine, that required a dr's prescription.

we have mostly ceased thinking that demons cause broken arms and the such, the next step is to see mental illnesses as biochemical and physical illnesses and cure them in the same way that a broken arm is set.

do demons cause depression? maybe.
will telling a depressed person that they are not a Christian because they are possessed by a demon help them?
nope. to understand the assurance of the faith, you better fix the depression first, and then explain it.

[mossrose]

yep.

i had serious depression from severe sleep apnea. i probably hadn't dreamed in years and never got into stage 4 sleep-REM because of it. One night on a CPAP machine in a sleep study center and i knew the difference. in a few months i was back to myself.

maybe demons cause some depression, but like a broken arm, i'd prefer to have my family doctor look at fixing it before i ask the elders to anoint it with oil and cast out the demon that cause s and maintains the break.

afaik, the overwhelming numbers of people with depression are that way for a physical not a spiritual problem or demonic possession. but i can testify that the depression will cause spiritual problems. but no spiritual counseling would have given me a CPAP machine, that required a dr's prescription.

we have mostly ceased thinking that demons cause broken arms and the such, the next step is to see mental illnesses as biochemical and physical illnesses and cure them in the same way that a broken arm is set.

do demons cause depression? maybe.
will telling a depressed person that they are not a Christian because they are possessed by a demon help them?
nope. to understand the assurance of the faith, you better fix the depression first, and then explain it.
:yeah:

Demons do not cause all ailments. And sometimes we get so focused on the spiritual that we forget about the physical. God gave us doctors and medicine for a reason.

[Forrest]

What's 'spirit'? Are all depressions a spirit? Are all illnesses a spirit? If mental illnesses are a spirit why do some drug therapies have wonderful outcomes? Are spirits affected by drugs? Why are mental illnesses supposedly subject to the will, intention and beliefs of the sufferer when having a cold isn't?
Everything in this physical world is a manifestation of the spiritual.

Heb 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Is there anything physical that is not a substance?

[Forrest]

:yeah:

Demons do not cause all ailments. And sometimes we get so focused on the spiritual that we forget about the physical. God gave us doctors and medicine for a reason.
If that is where your faith is.

[Forrest]

What's 'spirit'? Are all depressions a spirit? Are all illnesses a spirit? If mental illnesses are a spirit why do some drug therapies have wonderful outcomes? Are spirits affected by drugs? Why are mental illnesses supposedly subject to the will, intention and beliefs of the sufferer when having a cold isn't?
There is a difference between treating the symptoms and fixing the source.

ALL things have their source in the spirit world.

[Forrest]

I'm leaving this thread as it is apparent the only people responding believe that God is not our healer.

An individual on a different board indicated a history of depressiom. God gave me a word for that person...she suffers from a sense of lack and I believe she knows that.

Whatever you other people want to believe is your problem. Personally I believe if your faith is in doctors and that's all you got...you best hope the doctor can do something for you. I find it tragic however that when God offers us healing, to help us resolve the source of our issues that people would rather rely upon man's ingenuity than on God....While I have had occasion to find myself having to rely upon modern medicine, I have also found it seldom resolves (heals) the issue it only alleviates symptoms.

2 Cor 1:8-10 (NIV) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. {9} Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. {10} He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

As for me...my hope and my reliance is in God.

[Rayado]

If a Physician can heal this woman then she should do that...sounds to me that is not the case. But putting that aside...If any maladies had no spiritual source than Jesus would have certain maladies that He could not have healed.
:sigh: Except for the little fact that Jesus displayed mastery of both spirit and matter, which you are curiously divorcing.

I find it noteworthy that you make such distinctions. So noteworthy, in fact, that I am compelled to ask whether or not you believe pain, sickness, and evil really exist--or that matter really exists.

Is that what you believe?No. Sorry, my belief is a bit more sophisticated than that.

In other words...you are saying this depression can not be healed bt God?Sorry, Dr. Phil, you don't know my heart or my beliefs, so trying things like this won't work.

I affirm both the healing miracles in the OT and NT; and I affirm that God can heal depression, and often does. However, most of the time he doesn't. Why doesn't God heal everyone like you say he can? How about it?

In most cases, medicine does help to alleviate depression. In some cases, it doesn't. I work at a hospital with a Mental Health Unit--and the sheer number of depression cases we see are staggering. There are more than a few cases where these hurting people really need Jesus--but they need him as more than just a healer.

Perhaps the story of the woman with an issue of blood rings a bell? Like this depression...physicians were of no help.I see no reason to explain this to you--especially considering your misuse of Scripture earlier, other than to say that it was a fulfillment of Malachi 3.

The author of Luke and Acts was, according to tradition, a physician. Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine from time to time for his stomach. Surely you don't have anything to say to them?

And it goes without saying that there are many outstanding doctors that are also outstanding Christians. It would take a special kind of fool to say that they aren't helping any.

I hereby declare that you do not know what you are talking about.

[Nang]

I'm leaving this thread as it is apparent the only people responding believe that God is not our healer.

An individual on a different board indicated a history of depressiom. God gave me a word for that person...she suffers from a sense of lack and I believe she knows that.

Forrest:

You obviously have never suffered this affliction.

It is not a matter of "healing". It is a matter of living and getting through; a walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Such times do not touch a person's faith.

For faith given by God is indestructible . . . even when unenjoyed, and unemployed.

Faith in God is there without fail; faith cannot be lost, but only enhanced (according to the promise of Romans 8:28), and more deeply realized, when the stricken traveler gets to the other end of the valley, still in one piece.

Unless one has walked that valley, one should just stand aside.

For the partner walking that valley with the afflicted Christian, is none other than the Lord Himself.

Nang

[mossrose]

Perhaps you could give us chapter and verse where it mentions "sense of lack".

I have never read that in my Bible.

Lack of sense, however, that is a different story.

[Rayado]

If that is where your faith is.
Do you really claim to know her heart and faith that well?

[Shadow Phoenix]

Nonsense. Complete nonsense.

Our Lord was described as a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Believe it or not, we're not all always happy. We can all have up and down times. The mistake is to assume the Christian life is always to be lived on cloud nine. When we do that, we end up chasing a feeling instead of Christ.

Go read the great heroes of the faith. Many of them suffered from depression. Their suffering is ours as well. I find encouragement hearing about the hard times that my fellow believers have gone through throughout history, including those found in the pages of Scripture themselves.

Now this idea you have about medicine? Bunk. Big news for ya here. I carry cold hard steel whereever I go. I can set off metal detectors at an airport if security calls me out of line. I have to carry a card from my doctor with me whenever I fly. Why? Because I've got a rod of steel strapped right on my spine.

By your account, I'm a person not living in faith. I disagree entirely. I'm glad I had my surgery as painful as it was at the time. Today, I run like the wind and I run instead of walking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame because my spine is healed and I don't consider it any less a marvel of God because he used human intermediaries to bring it about.

Depression? Yeah. I've been there. I still go there from time to time. You know what really helps bring me out? My friends and family on here. It's the ones who accept me as I am and give me a home. It's the ones who have always encouraged me and supported me. Guess what. God used human intermediaries again. I don't discount that as any less a marvel.

There are real reasons people can get depressed. Life can be hard at times. What do I do? I roll with the punches. If I'm down, I don't try to make it a point to make myself happy. I instead just work through it. I let the emotions speak for the moment. It could just be that I'm tired or overworked or anything. It does not mean that a demon is hanging on my shoulder putting unpleasant thoughts in my head.

Furthermore, this is one of the worst ways to treat someone with depression. Never go into counseling please. I would never say to a person with depression, "Well the problem is obviously that you're suffering from a lack." The person is already suffering enough. Do you want to add insult to injury?

And yes, it is an insult to myself and anyone else who has had depression.

[mossrose]

Do you really claim to know her heart and faith that well?
Thanks for the pearls, Ray.

:whistle:

[God_is_personal]

reading these posts, I can see that different ones of us have some pretty good insights, but each of us can be a little self-favoritistic, can't we? can't we understand part, but not the whole? so, I'd say we have the adventure of getting what is right from each person, but not accepting any part that still needs correction

and we're dealing with depression, a very personal thing...each of us is so unique; so a problem of body and personality can be very complex, what only God can really understand about each particular individual; but, of course I'd say we can have some pretty general things to help us understand

now, we have the issue of if a certain case is "organic" ONLY, or is it a problem involving a wrong spirit messing with a person? you know, don't you(?), that if it IS spiritually rooted, then surely Satan can masquerade it as being just an "innocent" medical trouble...getting the doctor to mainly depend on some substance to make the person feel better without really getting rid of the main problem spiritual

so you have to be able to tell the difference; HAS anyone here given us a reliable way to tell the difference between a truly medical depression, versus a sin-caused depression pretending to be an innocent medical problem?

HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE???

[metta_in_mind]

reading these posts, I can see that different ones of us have some pretty good insights, but each of us can be a little self-favoritistic, can't we? can't we understand part, but not the whole? so, I'd say we have the adventure of getting what is right from each person, but not accepting any part that still needs correction

and we're dealing with depression, a very personal thing...each of us is so unique; so a problem of body and personality can be very complex, what only God can really understand about each particular individual; but, of course I'd say we can have some pretty general things to help us understand

now, we have the issue of if a certain case is "organic" ONLY, or is it a problem involving a wrong spirit messing with a person? you know, don't you(?), that if it IS spiritually rooted, then surely Satan can masquerade it as being just an "innocent" medical trouble...getting the doctor to mainly depend on some substance to make the person feel better without really getting rid of the main problem spiritual

so you have to be able to tell the difference; HAS anyone here given us a reliable way to tell the difference between a truly medical depression, versus a sin-caused depression pretending to be an innocent medical problem?

HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE???

Is it fair to say that over the last 2000 years the areas where we have traditionally 'seen' demonic activity, even by the church, has shrunk? This does not of course mean that demonic activity does not exist, but imo it should give us pause before declaring such and such a situation is a result of such activity.

Secondly, there seems in many posters here a dualism between matter and spirit that I don't see supported in scripture. Is it possible to divorce the worlds of spirit and matter enough to talk about 'organic only' versus 'spiritually caused? It would seem to me that a christian would view any healing as being from Jesus whatever the mechanism. Having one's brain chemistry adjusted by medication ought to be seen just as much a gift from God as falling over in a tent crusade.

I recognize as an ex-christian I may have different views to many here. It is not my intention to offend.

[Abigail]

Forrest, we are physical beings ...this is how God made us - however since our fall our flesh is still not glorified so we do have chemistry in us which is corrupt and imperfect and weighs us down. Lots of things affect our body chemistry ...light levels, hormones, immunity, corrupt genes, etc. Paul says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We were made to be physical beings ...it is what we are and what we will be. Right now we have to struggle with our flesh but we have this hope of a glorified body

[JSDileo]

Sorry to interrupt, but it just needs to be said:

:whack: Chemical depression is a chemical imbalance. (http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=159) Exploring this 'sense of lack' isn't going to do a thing about the seratonin levels in a person's brain.

Back to your regularly scheduled feeding frenzy...

You made a thread just to tell us that depression is different from ordinary sadness? :eh:

[Rayado]

You made a thread just to tell us that depression is different from ordinary sadness? :eh:
If it wasn't interrupting another thread in progress, I certainly wouldn't have. :hehe:

Here (http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=89167) is the other half to this thread--both started in a thread in Theology201 or something like that, and got derailed a few times.

[Xavier]

You made a thread just to tell us that depression is different from ordinary sadness? :eh:
It's a fact that bears repeating from time to time... Most folks don't "get" it.

[dizzle]

It's a fact that bears repeating from time to time... Most folks don't "get" it.

Not only that, Forrest had the ill manners to use my struggles with depression as a way to get in a cheap shot.

I suppose if my tagline said, cancer sucks, because I had cancer, it would be sheer hilarity for a hostile opponent to say "don't get a tumour over it" - we would all be rolling in our seats, right?

By Forrest's logic, blindness is caused by a spirit too, and all those stupid blind Christians just don't have enough faith.

I can personally attest to how much harm this kind of nonsense inflicts in the lives of people. I am open about my maladies to the point of utter transparency because so many people have written to me over the years about the burden of shame and lack of faith that has been foisted upon them.

[spiritmech]

One accepted major cause, mentioned earlier, is anger. Most anger begins with a "HURT" (some disappointment, an action or non-action on the part of someone). Instead of admitting the hurt the person mulls it over and becomes "ANGRY." Anger hides the hurt. The anger is not admitted, expressed, or dealt with. This may lead to "REVENGE." The revenge hides the hurt and the anger. Revenge leads to disruptive, violent actions that are not acceptable in our society. The revenge is then repressed. The repressed revenge can lead to 1), destructive action; or 2), Psychosomatic symptoms; or 3), depression. If the depression deepens, or is not alleviated, it can lead to despair and despondency.

Being a member of a 12-step group has kind of opened my eyes to the possibility that some of my depression is of my own making. I didn't mean to create depression, but my responses to life have created more depression for myself than would be biologically warranted.

I've been envious and angry my entire life. How could it not turn into depression, at least some? I'm still trying to figure out how much is biological and how much isn't, but overall I feel much better than I've ever felt in years. This is much better than the boy who was so angry and suicidal at age 14.

sm

[dizzle]

Certainly there are behaviours and attitudes that can drive depression. I know ones that make mine worse or cause it to come on. However, a lot of mine is driven by OCD which I have had back to my earliest memories, certainly biological. I know the difference also between depressions which are situation-driven and those that are biologically driven. What happens though is if a depressive person lets a situation-driven depression go on, it can, and with me does, turn into biological clinical depression.

As fellow sufferers know, this is nothing to sneeze at. Without assistance, both behavioural and medical, this can easily destroy a life.

Medicine alone is never the answer. Any good doctor will tell you that. But eschewing medicine and placing all the burden on the sufferer and their faith is more than people should have to bear.

[spiritmech]

Certainly there are behaviours and attitudes that can drive depression. I know ones that make mine worse or cause it to come on. However, a lot of mine is driven by OCD which I have had back to my earliest memories, certainly biological. I know the difference also between depressions which are situation-driven and those that are biologically driven. What happens though is if a depressive person lets a situation-driven depression go on, it can, and with me does, turn into biological clinical depression.

As fellow sufferers know, this is nothing to sneeze at. Without assistance, both behavioural and medical, this can easily destroy a life.

Medicine alone is never the answer. Any good doctor will tell you that. But eschewing medicine and placing all the burden on the sufferer and their faith is more than people should have to bear.

Agreed.

[mossrose]

If that is where your faith is.



There is a story I heard quite a few years ago, goes like this:

A man lived in a city where there was a great flood. He climbed up onto the roof of his house to escape the rising waters. He prayed, "Oh God, save me from drowning!"

After a while, as he watched the waters continually rising, and he kept praying, he saw a man in a rowboat coming near. The man in the boat said, "Jump into the boat and I will take you to safety!" The man on the roof said, "God will save me!" So the rowboat went away to help others trapped by the flood.

The man continued to pray, beseeching God to save him, and watching the waters rise. Soon the water was over the edges of the roof. As he prayed, the man saw a motorboat speeding up to the submerged house. The man in the boat said, "Come over to the edge of the house, and you will be able to climb into the boat!" The man on the roof said, "No, God is going to save me!" And the motorboat sped away to help others.

The water continued to rise. Soon it was up to the man's chest, and he prayed fervantly for God to save him from the flood. As he stood there, a helicopter came into sight......the pilot saw him on his roof, and hovered over him. He shouted down, "I'll let a rope ladder down and you can climb up to safety!" The man on the roof said, "No, God will save me!" The helicopter flew away to find others who needs help.

The waters continued to rise, and finally covered the man's head. Needless to say, he drowned.

When he woke up in heaven, he saw God, and he said, "God, I prayed for you to save me from the flood! Why didn't you?"

And God said, "I sent a rowboat, a motorboat and a helicopter! What more did you want?"


My faith is in God. But I believe that God has provided us with knowledge about how our bodies work. That is why a person goes to medical school, and research is done to help end disease. I believe that God can heal through medicine and doctors. He doesn't always.

Sometimes healing comes through death. That is not how we would prefer it, perhaps, but there it is. And unless we are sinning in ways that make us sick, we CANNOT blame all illness on sin.

I believe there is scriptural basis for saying that not all disease is caused by sin.....John 9:

1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

3Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.




In this case, the man was born blind so that at this very moment in time and history, Jesus would walk by and heal him, so that God would be glorified. And maybe that is why we get sick sometimes. Not because we don't have enough faith, but because in our healing, or maybe in our lack of healing, God would be glorified.


We live in a fallen world. Our bodies age and sicken and decay. That is the order of this fallen world. Many, many people who have deep faith in Jesus Christ get sick and die. That is the way it is in this fallen world. To say they didn't have enough faith is shameful and wrong.


Why, if we all had "enough" faith, none of us would surely ever die! And that just doesn't happen. Not physically, anyway.........

[Johnny MacManky]

. . . HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE???

Good question Bill. I've seen clinical depression described as the only illness with "spiritual symptoms".

Anyway, cutting to the chase, perhaps the way to easily tell if a mental illness is caused by the activity of evil spirits (as against physical chemical imbalances) would be for the Christian sufferer to seek to have the evil spirits cast out. If this results in no change in their health, then clearly the illness is not because of evil spirits.

After all, surely God would never allow a believer to be afflicted by evil spirits if they were to call on God to save them and release them from such demonic attack, whereas, sometimes God will, for His own reasons, allow a believer to be afflicted by physical illness.

(I freely acknowledge that I have oversimplified the scenario.)

[RumTumTugger]

Forrest your type of thinking is the same type of poisoned thinking that drives people away from Christianity. The truth is you have no idea of what the true promise of God is and what true faith is do you?

Your saying that people aren't healed or that illnesses and other health problems come because of sin and that it is sin that stops them from being healed flys in the face of what 2 wonderful faithful people who taught me about God and pain. See this article I wrote soon after the Death of a dear friend from complications of the muscular dystrophe she developed not due to any sin on her part, and then come back and tell us that your faith is stronger than that shown by her or my cousin mentioned there. God and Pain (http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=66020)

Michele,
Who strives for the True Faith in a Trustworthy God.

[Glory2Him]

Firstly, it should be noted that I was diagnosed by two separate doctors; a psychiatrist and a psychologist as being clinically depressed, and my psychiatrist filled out a prescription for it.

It is absolutly true that depression is a physical chemical disorder in the brain; HOWEVER, what do you think you know about matter? What do you think you know about this physical world? How many of you were there at the dawn of time, when our creator laid the foundations of this earth, when he formed from the dust of the ground our minds? There are many deep levels of truth that are beyond our conceptual limitations. For those of you who have delved into the areas of quantum physics recently, you will note that it has been irrefutably established that matter at the sub-atomic level does not act according to the laws of Neutonian Physics, matter can be in two places at once, ever hear of wave-partical duality, or the uncertainty principle?

It all depends how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, but the point is, what we think matter is, it's not, and it has been proven that our thoughts and emotions have a direct effect on the reality around us. Forest was right on when he said that depression is the lacking of something. When I was clinically depressed to the point of actually being suicidal, my doctors made the excuses for me saying that it was something outside of my control...boy was it easy to play the victim, but my soul was not at rest. I had invested my heart into a number of things in this world only to be let down and broken time and time again. Then one night I became resolved to pray (I was already a "Christian" but I was living a life of prideful self-focus and trying to control my life on my own accord). My prayer was the prayer I knew I had to pray for so long to that point. "Break me" I prayed it over and over that God might break my pride and release me from this prison I was enslaved to. Free me from the depression, fill the restlessness, the void that only grew larger each day in my heart. THAT NIGHT I was healed and many miraculous things happened to me subsequently which are irrelevant to the present issue. The point is, I was set free from my depression at the moment that I filled that void (that "lack" that forest refered to) with God. (Not only in word, but more importantly in heart. For I had done this in word everyday since age 3) But it wasn't until that moment that my heart realized what it meant to rely on God.

Maybe I was a unique case, but then again, I must say that I wasn't too suprised when it did happen because it is the promise of scripture that he who hunger and thirsts for righteousness will be satisfied. I was not suprised, but I was deeply overjoyed, shaken in my own tears with joy. It was real, it was intense and it was not of me, but of Him.

Now, if Forest said that disease is evidence of a sinner, then he is indeed dead wrong...this is what Job's friends thought, and God rebuked them; however, I don't remember Forest ever saying that. I think the point Forest was making, and the point I would emphasize also is that disease is a result of the human race's sinful nature (in contrast to the way God created paradise as) and that depression is the lacking of, and God is the fulfillment of...Now does this mean that the individual just needs to wake up and get with the program on his own ability? No, at least, that wasn't the case for me. For me, it was a matter of me recognizing my prideful heart, pleading for brokenness (not realizing that the very brokenness that I was praying for, I had already been going through for two years through this depression) and then the Spirit of God filling me. It had about as much to do with me, as it has to do with a child when he opens a present his father gives him. Sure he has to open the gift, but it is the father who did all the work. In the same way, it is not by him who wills, but by the grace of God that we are saved and in my case healed from an enslavement of my flesh. Do you think that a physical enslavement is so different from a spiritual enslavement? In both cases there is nothing you can do but pray for freedom and have hope that God might show mercy and lovingkindness.

Can you be a clinically depressed Christian? Well, personally I think that judgement is the last thing needed for a depressed brother or sister. Grace and love to the humbled. I was not in need of any judgement, I knew full well my sins, I knew full well my infirmities. Judgement is NOT for the depressed. Grace is. Grace to those who who are humbled. And as to the philosophical or theological question posed...I don't think that the answer is beneficial. What is beneficial to someone in my position who wants to be filled with Christ, but is clinically depressed is constant love (not flattery or soft soap, but true unconditional love)

I will say that while I was depressed and suicidal, I was not convinced in the depths of my heart (though my tounge professed it, and heaven knows I wanted to want Him) that Christ was my fulfilment. I can't and won't make any universal claim to this.

[Rusty T]

Take it or leave it, but Pope John Paul II wrote extensively on suffering. I would commend his letter Salvifici Doloris (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris_en.html) to everyone. I'm reading it myself, and I have already found wonderful expression of the reality of suffering in the lives of all.

Suffering, more than anything else, makes present in the history of humanity the powers of the Redemption. In that "cosmic" struggle between the spiritual powers of good and evil, spoken of in the Letter to the Ephesians, human sufferings, united to the redemptive suffering of Christ, constitute a special support for the powers of good, and open the way to the victory of these salvific powers. And so the Church sees in all Christ's suffering brothers and sisters as it were a multiple subject of his supernatural power. How often is it precisely to them that the pastors of the Church appeal, and precisely from them that they seek help and support! The Gospel of suffering is being written unceasingly, and it speaks unceasingly with the words of this strange paradox: the springs of divine power gush forth precisely in the midst of human weakness. Those who share in the sufferings of Christ preserve in their own sufferings a very special particle of the infinite treasure of the world's Redemption, and can share this treasure with others. The more a person is threatened by sin, the heavier the structures of sin which today's world brings with it, the greater is the eloquence which human suffering possesses in itself. And the more the Church feels the need to have recourse to the value of human sufferings for the salvation of the world.

rusty

[Storico]

Depression (true medical depression, I don't mean sadness) does not creep in because a person lacks faith, and it does not usually leave because a person prays it away. Although God's capable of healing everything, sometimes He doesn't. We don't know why. Sometimes medicine heals, or doesn't, and we don't know why about the times it doesn't. But I can attest to the fact that depression is far more deep seated than just faith alone. If any effort on our part could conquer it, we would. I don't know anyone who would choose to hang onto it. That being said, depressed or not, we cope the best way we can, and to the greatest extent we can, we let God help. We let family and friends in to help too, when we can. Many of us, I suspect, have a deeper relationship with God because not only has He shared in our joy, but He's dwelt in those valleys with us. Since coming back to Christ, what I've ALWAYS been aware of isn't a happy, warm, fuzzy feeling or anything like that. I've been aware of a certainty -- that my Father's always with us. That He'll not leave or forsake us. Depression or not.

[dizzle]

Exactly

[Glory2Him]

I agree to a stong degree of what you said. I don't believe that there is anything I could do or did, all on my own accord. You speak of faith as if it is fully under our control. Faith is a gift, that we can hope for and pray for. It is indeed a key with limitless ends, but it is not a key we manifest ourselves, but a gift from God. "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could move mountains." Yes it seems as though moving a mountain is an impossible thing for an individual to do, and it may seem phony at first glance to just say, "all you need is faith, and you can move the mountain" Then when you think you have faith (such resolved faith that you are convinced the mountain will move) and yet it remains still. Either Jesus was lying, or our concept of faith isn't His concept of faith. Personally, my experience has been that faith is something given by God, and once it is given, we THEN have the freedom of choice to act on it, or ignore it, based on whether we adhere to the flesh or the spirit. So when it is said, "Faith will cure depression" this is not meant to mean that intellectual conviction will cure it, but it means that the same faith that moves mountains will also cure depression, and this faith is not of him who wills, but by the grace of God, so that no man can boast.

[Nang]

Personally, my experience has been that faith is something given by God, and once it is given, we THEN have the freedom of choice to act on it, or ignore it, based on whether we adhere to the flesh or the spirit. So when it is said, "Faith will cure depression" this is not meant to mean that intellectual conviction will cure it, but it means that the same faith that moves mountains will also cure depression, and this faith is not of him who wills, but by the grace of God, so that no man can boast.

My experience has been that faith in God is indestructible (and frankly, untouchable), and whether we utilize our gift of belief in God or not, true saving faith in God will remain despite any sorrow or pressure or imbalance we must suffer physically.

God never judges His children by removing His gift of faith. Theologically, that is what is SO important about realizing that faith is FROM God and is God's gift, and not an inner production of belief or acquiesence that emanates from our (sin-ridden, weak, sick) souls.

It may be people get so low in spirit that they cannot exercise inner beliefs, but God holds them up by the power of His Holy Spirit and the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in these times.

He walks them through what He has called them to live. There is NEVER any danger that God will remove or deplete His gift of faith given to His children.

"The LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." I Samuel 12:22

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

". . .For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Nang

[Glory2Him]

My experience has been that faith in God is indestructible (and frankly, untouchable), and whether we utilize our gift of belief in God or not, true saving faith in God will remain despite any sorrow or pressure or imbalance we must suffer physically.

God never judges His children by removing His gift of faith. Theologically, that is what is SO important about realizing that faith is FROM God and is God's gift, and not an inner production of belief or acquiesence that emanates from our (sin-ridden, weak, sick) souls.

It may be people get so low in spirit that they cannot exercise inner beliefs, but God holds them up by the power of His Holy Spirit and the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in these times.

He walks them through what He has called them to live. There is NEVER any danger that God will remove or deplete His gift of faith given to His children.

"The LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." I Samuel 12:22

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

". . .For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Nang
Well said Nang, I agree completely, if I can figure out how to send pearls I will. :teeth:

But this doesn't clear up whether you can be physiologically depressed and still render having faith. It is not something worthy of judgment by man, having faith or not, and so I do not judge on that. I merely hold a sign to those who are going through what I was going through. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is great hope and joy in Christ. Knock and the door will be opened. Hunger and thirst for righteousness and you will be satisfied. The depths of depression may render someone so inept so as to not be able to find Christ, theologically yes we were all enslaved to the desires of the flesh, it might not be as apparent as in the example of a person who is clinically depressed, but the reality is there for all of mankind. Practically speaking there is hope yet still, and this is found in Christ. This is not to say that Christ is primarily interested in your health and wealth, but it is to say that He loves His children and we are promised glory in Him for eternity. There is light, there is hope, for the kingdom is at hand. Prayer is powerful. Seek the prayers of those around you, and "seek ye first the kingdom of God". God has proven His word true enough to me in this matter, that I was dead. I was enslaved. Now I am alive and free, not by my own accord but by the grace of His gift. It took me years of reflecting on my heart's investment on things of this world and the pride that overwhelmed me. I then realized that it was all vainity. My depression sank deeper to the points of suicide. Then God put someone in my life who wasn't even a Christian, but who convinced me to pray the prayer I knew I had to pray. "Break me" After that I physically felt His Spirit cleanse my mind and my entire body. I was free and alive. It was the grace and gift of God. I don't know about your life or millions of other lives, all I can account for is my own, and hope that my testimony brings hope to others who are in my shoes.

[Nang]

Well said Nang, I agree completely, if I can figure out how to send pearls I will. :teeth:

But this doesn't clear up whether you can be physiologically depressed and still render having faith.

It is my belief that man does not "render belief." Such a feat is espesicially impossible in the clinically depressed.


Knock and the door will be opened.

This is a common misunderstanding of the verse to which you refer:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . ."

Please note: it is the Lord who "knocks."

"And if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20

Faith is given to those upon whom Christ "knocks" their doors. It is Christ choosing who He will come in and abide with. He knocks. He takes the initiative.


This is not to say that Christ is primarily interested in your health

Christ will save His children despite their physical and mental ailments. Such infirmities and weaknesses do not compare with the glory prepared for the sons of God in the spiritual Kingdom of God.

They are temporal. His promises are eternal.

We live through temporal circumstances and conditions, by faith in the unseen realities revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the life to come.

Christians will receive the eternal rewards of promise . . . not by sight, but by faith in the perfect humanity and Holy Spirit of the Son of God, regardless of their earthly afflictions and infirmities of the flesh, mind, and emotions.

Nang

[Glory2Him]

It is my belief that man does not "render belief." Such a feat is espesicially impossible in the clinically depressed.
Agreed, that no man renders belief, I stated that earlier. :smile:


This is a common misunderstanding of the verse to which you refer:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . ."

Please note: it is the Lord who "knocks."

"And if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20
Hmmm...I'm sorry if I should have clarified which verse I was refering to. I was refering to Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." I would appreciate it; however, if you looked at how I was possibly right, as opposed to looking at how I can possibly be wrong, because it really wouldn't be too hard to figure out that this is probably the verse I am refering to. You see there are two perspectives you can take when looking at this issue. The theological or the practical. Theologically it is absolutely true that it is Christ who does all the work, but practically does this mean we lie on our beds doing nothing? NO! We do not comprehend what this really means and it is independant of our thoughts and actions, which means that we cannot "do" anything about that theological truth. So what I am saying is of the practical truth, that we must believe and have faith, and that faith has no bounds.

Christ will save His children despite their physical and mental ailments. Such infirmities and weaknesses do not compare with the glory prepared for the sons of God in the spiritual Kingdom of God.

They are temporal. His promises are eternal.

We live through temporal circumstances and conditions, by faith in the unseen realities revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the life to come.

Christians will receive the eternal rewards of promise . . . not by sight, but by faith in the perfect humanity and Holy Spirit of the Son of God, regardless of their earthly afflictions and infirmities of the flesh, mind, and emotions.

Nang
Agreed. If what I said didn't make this clear, then I apologize. :smile: What I didn't want to convey was the idea that so many Christians do convey, and that is that once you put your faith in Jesus everything will be okay, and if you are experiencing bad times, you must not have strong enough faith.....BULL! John the Baptist was in prision and Jesus told him he would stay and die there. Paul was flogged and beat up a great number of times. Oh my goodness there are thousands of examples I could give because, in reality, the opposite is true. Once we have proclaimed Christ our king, we have put a giant bulls eye on ourselves for Satan. We are on enemy territory, we ought to expect hardships as Christians. So in this regard, Christ is not primarily interested in our temporal health, wealth, and comfort. His dreams for us is not the American Dream, although the Jesus of Suburbia that so many Christians have manifested seems to resonate with this mentality. I am talking about the Jesus of Nazerath who promises great triumph and glory over death eternally, not temporally.

[Matt M]

I wonder if Forrest is a christian scientist.

[God_is_personal]

first . . . metta, I appreciate you clarifying what your background is for the views you expressed in your Post #19

spiritmech > answering your Post #25 above > thanks > first, you posted how revenge can lead to depression > once I read in a secular counseling book that a number of housewives started having their depression problems after increased arguing in their marriages . . . interesting, how secular counselors might notice this connection > and the Bible does clearly say, "Do all things without complaining and disputing," (Philippians 2:14) > I'd say that if we give in to the wrong spirit (Ephesians 2:2) which has us arguing, then later this wrong spirit can break us down into depression, maybe having us mad and sad and bad about not getting what we had hoped to gain by arguing > this can be a pattern of doing things with Satan...how he has us so intently trying to use arguing to force an outcome that we want, but this can't work because "God resists the proud", we have in James 4:6 and also in 1 Peter 5:5 > and so . . . as we keep pushing it, instead of getting wise to ourselves, we can break down more and more

arguing can come with complaining which is a negative thing that can be related to depression; complaining can feed it; and it is Satan's spirit of disobedience which has us disobeying God by complaining, I would consider...Ephesians 2:2... Satan is so joy-DEAD!!! so his spirit definitely can cause depression . . . even as we may be very active in his spirit . . . still, the depression can come later, after we have gotten more involved with him and are discovering we aren't getting what we so tried to get

but an ORGANIC depression, with no spiritual involvement...now that would be another story...the person would have the physical shutdown, but spiritually the Holy Spirit could have the person rejoicing in the Lord, I would consider, since it is obedient for us to rejoice in the Lord "always" (Philippians 4:4) and to give thanks "always for all things", we have in Ephesians 5:20 > so a truly organic depression would not stop us from rejoicing in the Lord and enjoying loving all people

but there is physical depression which is "psychomatically" linked to the person being rebellious (by complaining, arguing, seeking unforgiveness, nurturing hurts instead of forgiving, looking down on others who know less than we do, etc.), and such has taken the person on to more and more degradation until a depressioin sets in and pretends to be just organic so it doesn't get treated effectively

so, you say, "Being a member of a 12-step group has kind of opened my eyes to the possibility that some of my depression is of my own making. I didn't mean to create depression, but my responses to life have created more depression for myself than would be biologically warranted." THANK you!!! this fits with my "theory" . . . how you can deeper be doing things wrong, spiritually, and then this can bring more and more shutdown and pain...as you cooperate with Satan's wrong spirit of pain and being down, etc. > now, you would not think anger and arguing (which can be so active) would lead to depression, but it weakens you in the wrong spirit which then can bring us down > not to mention - - after perhaps starting us in pleasures very exciting, even, he can later take us down > this can work kind of like how a drug can have you high but then leave you in a down

you shared...so helpfully, I'd say > "I've been envious and angry my entire life. How could it not turn into depression, at least some? I'm still trying to figure out how much is biological and how much isn't, but overall I feel much better than I've ever felt in years. This is much better than the boy who was so angry and suicidal at age 14." > my take > you are confessing to how that stuff is wrong, and honest confession brings healing > this process including, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16) so, when you confess the spiritual things that are wrong, and get healed of these, better and better...this will also remove any organic depression which is rooted in that spiritually wrong stuff

so, I'm offering...you don't have to figure out in detail which depression is organic and which spiritual...just "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you," Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 > there will be organic healing which will automatically come with overcoming spiritual problems...especially as much as any depression does have spiritual roots > in my case ALL depression goes right away as I get right with God in His sweetness of peace and joy which no physical trouble can stop > the Holy Spirit is all-powerful; so NO physical medical trouble can overcome the sweet and sensitive joy we have with the Lord > and, on top of this, He will give life to your mortal body (Romans 8:11), removing physical depression, especially that which is related to the spiritual cause

THANK you, spiritmech!!!

[Nang]

What I didn't want to convey was the idea that so many Christians do convey, and that is that once you put your faith in Jesus everything will be okay, and if you are experiencing bad times, you must not have strong enough faith.....BULL! John the Baptist was in prision and Jesus told him he would stay and die there. Paul was flogged and beat up a great number of times. Oh my goodness there are thousands of examples I could give because, in reality, the opposite is true. Once we have proclaimed Christ our king, we have put a giant bulls eye on ourselves for Satan. We are on enemy territory, we ought to expect hardships as Christians. So in this regard, Christ is not primarily interested in our temporal health, wealth, and comfort. His dreams for us is not the American Dream, although the Jesus of Suburbia that so many Christians have manifested seems to resonate with this mentality. I am talking about the Jesus of Nazerath who promises great triumph and glory over death eternally, not temporally.

Amen to these words . . .I am sorry I posted so contrary, but it was simply my desire to emphasize what you have articulated here so well.

I truly believe, too, that all things work together for good for those who love God. (Romans 8:28) IOW,s even the dreadful times and afflictions all have Godly purpose, (the prime example being the believer, Job) and when we come through them, often we find that our experiences are used by God to help others . . .exactly how He is using you and your posts presently.

Blessings to you,
Nang

[God_is_personal]

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19)

[TCapp]

*wanders out of blog hidey-hole to address this thread*

I read the first half and then had to respond. Perhaps I'll read the second half later.

I suffer a very bad malady called Seasonal Affective Disorder. If I don't get enough sunlight (like in the winter), I get depressed. My fatigue grows larger, my constant need to sleep drags me down, my brain clouds over and I can't remember the simplest things. This is NOT fun and makes it hard for me to be a parent too, with all the responsibilites requiring I not suffer these things.

In the summer, when the sun shines until 11:00pm, I am jittery, bouncy, and awake until 1:00am or later. It's like too much coffee.

You can read my blog and see me lament about this over and over and over. It's a constant fight just to break even, emotionally and mentally. I've taken St. John's Wort, used a light box, a sunrise/set simulator, fish oil, 5-HTP, music, drawing, My Little Pony collection, prayer, everything I could throw at it. And all this effort only got me on an even keel. I rarely felt happy or joyful even after all that.

This is all a result from moving from my desert home in Arizona to the artict zone in the Yukon. I did it as an act of faith, too. So is my depression the result of some kind of sinfulness? A lack of faith? Or is it a lack of sunlight?

[God_is_personal]

(1) people whose depression is truly an "innocent" medical trouble

(2) ones whose depression is a reaping of what they have sowed, having been interested in selfish things and now that selfish spirit is bringing them down about not getting the possessing of people, the pleasures, the position, the prestige etc. that they wanted; and this Satanic spirit-caused depression WILL pretend to be just a medical issue

(3) and, of course, ANY of us can have selfish stuff spiritual, which effects our health badly; so if I am suffering run-down in my body and notice how also SPIRITUALLY I am not being joyful and sweet with the LORD..."this is all I need to know" > this means I am "probably" NOT involved in just a medical thing, but with deeper spiritual stuff messing me up; because the Holy Spirit will keep me loving and enjoying God and caring about others and not just myself...while I am in His love, even during physical trouble...like Jesus did on the cross; so, when my body is run-down AND I notice how spiritually also I am depressed, the first thing to do is seek the kingdom of God so I get right spiritually, then see if and how this brings psychosomatic health improvement > it works pretty well > "just get right with God in His joy and peace first, and see what this brings"...instead of just trying to analyze things...TEST how His joy and peace take care of things...do a lab test diagnostic

but ones in the reaped sort of depression WILL be in denial about this, often enough; so I'd say it's good to get your diagnosis right >

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6)

In my case, I reap death of joy because of what I have sowed. And when I am busy loving and caring about and having hope for ALL people, in prayer, I reap sweet and satisfying and sensitive joy with the LORD. And purely physical problems can't change this. So, I still ask, what are ones talking about when they say their depression is just medical, therefore "innocent", but they don't have the joy of the LORD? He does not quit giving us joy, just because of some physical problem. But if we are not really submitting to Jesus, we WILL be overcome by the one who is joy-dead and discouraging and negative.

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

Prayer for mistaken people does work. Be humble about how you may know others are wrong. I can be wrong, too...able to fool myself and not know it.

[Rahab]

IMO, under no condition are christians who suffer of CLINICAL depression to be stigmatized by suggestions that they lack faith. Such clinical conditions are the sole product of bio chemical unbalances in the brain. They can be modified by the use of various medical drugs.

Circumstancial depression : temporary depression caused by emotional overload occuring during specific circumstances. Such as loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of employment, financial hardship, catastrophic illnesses etc...Sudden and unexpected changes which disrupt our welfare or threaten it. There too, no stigmatism should be attached to christians who experience such depression. Providing emotional, physical and spiritual support to our fellow christians will carry them thru those difficult times.

Depression caused by self imposed circumstances: such as choices made by a christian resulting in negative consequences and a sense of self condemnation. A good shepherd will pick up a wounded sheep and carry it to safer grounds. It matters not how the sheep got wounded and why. What matters is to rehabilitate that sheep into spiritual, physical and emotional health. Thus no stigmatism there either. Self condemnation is a rampant cause of depressive behaviors among many christians. The fear to be ostrecized from their communities, fear to be judged, often keep them in isolation. Compassion is essential to help such christians "out of their gutter".


I am writing this based on my strong belief that Christ meant to promote recovery and healing among us.

[Theologic]

Another body related issue is that diet may impact mental health. A nice Pubmed abstract can be found here (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16741195&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum) . I'll put the abstract at the end of the post.

The brain is made up of about 1/3 Omega-3. Now, you can't synthesize Omega-3 in your body. You must eat it. It looks like there is growing evidence for the lack of these n-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fats) as contributing to poor mental health. The normal source for it is fish.

John 21:

9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

Perhaps, he was just feeding them what they needed. :smile:

When talking about things like depression, my belief is there is an intersection between the mind, the body and the spirit. You can get in trouble by ignoring any one of the three.

Therefore, popping a few Omega-3 capsules makes sense.

Theo "First Post" Logic

**************************

Relevant abstract reposted below so you don't have to go searching.

Omega-3 fatty acids and mood disorders.

* Parker G,
* Gibson NA,
* Brotchie H,
* Heruc G,
* Rees AM,
* Hadzi-Pavlovic D.

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au

OBJECTIVE: This article is an overview of epidemiological and treatment studies suggesting that deficits in dietary-based omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may make an etiological contribution to mood disorders and that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may provide a therapeutic strategy. METHOD: Relevant published studies are detailed and considered. RESULTS: Several epidemiological studies suggest covariation between seafood consumption and rates of mood disorders. Biological marker studies indicate deficits in omega-3 fatty acids in people with depressive disorders, while several treatment studies indicate therapeutic benefits from omega-3 supplementation. A similar contribution of omega-3 fatty acids to coronary artery disease may explain the well-described links between coronary artery disease and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in omega-3 fatty acids have been identified as a contributing factor to mood disorders and offer a potential rational treatment approach. This review identifies a number of hypotheses and studies for consideration. In particular, the authors argue for studies clarifying the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation for unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders, both as individual and augmentation treatment strategies, and for studies pursuing which omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is likely to provide the greatest benefit.